"Ha, that's fine. I wasn't planning to use your help on getting the treasure anyway." Jude shrugged as he said that.
"I mean, are you sure? By the looks of how things are right now, I feel like it would take you at least a month or so to make a complete recovery." Hades spoke.
"Well, that's the thing, isn't it? I'm not looking to do a complete recovery. I simply have to recover just a bit so that I get to start moving towards my destination." Jude replied.
"You aren't wrong about that." Persephone nodded her head at that point.
"But it's still going to take at least a week." Hades mumbled. "However, if we are to give you a bit of help, then you would probably be able to move a little earlier." He shrugged as he said that.
"That might be so, but as Persephone said, then my efforts wouldn't be recognized. And that's not something that I can afford." Jude replied. "Also, why are you trying to make me take upon your offer to help, huh? Are you trying to sabotage my chances or something?" He asked.
Hades sighed. "Ha, nothing... I've just known Proteus for a long time now. He isn't gonna make it any easy for you."
"I'm aware of that, yes." Jude nodded his head as he spoke.
"Also, you don't have much time to spare. If I were you, I would've used all the help that I get and tried doing my tasks as soon as possible." Hades muttered.
"And? What's the point of doing that, huh? Even if I did the tasks fast, it's not like I get to go scot-free or something like that. I'm gonna still have to go back with you guys to the underworld. So, I would much rather struggle a bit and probably enjoy my time over here before I go back." Jude shrugged as he replied.
"I mean, that's a good point." Persephone muttered.
"Babe, you gotta be on my side at least once, you know?" Hades turned towards his wife and cried.
"Well, trust me when I say this... I'm always on your side, honey. Even if I don't voice it out loud." Persephone smiled as she said that.
"Stop it right there. I don't wanna see you guys go Aww and get all cuddly and all. Go do that somewhere else. I mean, we're having a quite important conversation now, you know?" Jude spoke.
"Not really though." Persephone shrugged.
"Huh?"
"I mean, what are you gonna tell us now? That you're gonna try your best to start doing normal stuff by a week? We know that already. So, there's that. What else?" Persephone asked.
"..." Jude became speechless at that point.
"Nothing, right? Then we wish you luck, young padawan. Get trying then." She spoke, giving out a thumbs up.
"... Well..." Jude still found it difficult to argue, so he decided to shut his mouth and try putting in some effort instead.
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One week passed like a breeze, to be honest. Well, it did for the couple. However, the same couldn't be said about poor Jude, who was simply doing his best to make normal movements. For him, it was simply a drag. He was trying his best, but that was it. There was nothing exciting in his life. It was just him trying to move little by little. An endless chore, if anything.
However, during this one week, he realized a lot about the current body that his soul was in. Like, he didn't know about the body's past or anything, but he still understood how this body functioned. Since he was occupying a dead body, he didn't feel hunger or thirst or any feelings of that sort. While this was a plus point in itself, it made him sad as well. After all, eating food is something that a person lives for. And the fact that he couldn't do something like that, solidified the fact that he was an undead after all.
Even though he necessarily didn't have to eat food, that didn't mean that he couldn't. He learned that he was able to eat food. However, then came the second revelation that destroyed him. He couldn't taste the food that he ate. Which meant that there's no point eating food. He couldn't enjoy the delicacies he was planning to enjoy, so he was distort more than anything. So, the only point in eating would be for him to blend with the living population and nothing else, which is effective, but sad to be honest.
Other than that, he learned more about how his body moved and how to make progress with little movement. It was not like he was planning to go battle against the fellow villains from the get go. He knew that he was going to get some time for doing that. So, rather than rushing the process and getting screwed over, he decided to take it really slow. And for now, getting to Proteus' treasure was all that was in his mind.
In the end of the week, he had finally done it! He could actually move properly without it looking extremely awkward or something. Before, he looked like a skeleton soldier walking around, but now he looks like an injured human dragging his body along and all. It was a significant change in his eyes.
"So, it seems like you are ready for the adventure then!" Hades spoke as he took a glance at Jude.
"I believe that is the case, yes." Jude nodded his head vigorously as he spoke.
"Great, then step right out, young man. Your life of adventure is awaiting you." Hades had a smile on his face as he moved out of the way.
Jude was particularly proud of himself as he slowly stepped his foot out towards the exit of the cave. He was about to see the sunlight for the first time in a long time. This was indeed the moment he was waiting for ever since getting here. He was genuinely excited.
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